Abuja: The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the National Gallery of Art (NGA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to address copyright infringement within the visual art sector. This initiative aims to bolster the creative economy by ensuring the rightful protection and distribution of visual artworks. The agreement was formalized by Dr. John Asein, Director-General of NCC, and Mr. Ahmed Sodangi, Director-General of NGA, at the NCC headquarters in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the MoU seeks to enhance collaboration between the two organizations to prevent unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, and display of copyrighted visual artworks. Dr. Asein emphasized the importance of focusing on the visual arts sector and expressed intentions to replicate such measures in other sectors. He highlighted the necessity for collaboration with other governmental units and agencies to support visual artists effectively.
Dr. Asein expressed commitment to ensuring that the creative sector contributes significantly to national goals and fosters tangible outcomes aligned with the government’s policies. He commended NGA’s leadership for facilitating the partnership and mentioned ongoing discussions for further collaboration. Asein reiterated NCC’s dedication to disrupting illicit activities in the visual art sector and called for support from stakeholders, including the private sector and the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).
Mr. Sodangi described the MoU as a strategic step for the visual arts sector, which is closely linked with creativity and intellectual property. He stressed the importance of protecting intellectual property to prevent revenue loss due to copyright infringement. Sodangi noted that collaboration with NCC and SNA would help achieve the MoU’s objectives, particularly in addressing unauthorized copying of artworks.
The collaboration aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to enhance inter-agency cooperation for sectoral improvement. Sodangi mentioned plans for a joint working committee to address issues like unauthorized street art and to develop policies safeguarding artists’ intellectual property. He acknowledged NCC’s efforts in prompting action and policy focus for the protection of intellectual property.
Muhammad Sulaiman, SNA President, expressed support for the MoU and emphasized the importance of protecting creative works. He highlighted the historical significance of non-duplicated artworks by renowned artists and called for an end to copyright infringement. Sulaiman reiterated SNA’s commitment to safeguarding the intellectual property of Nigerian artists, asserting the need for collective action in protecting artistic creations.